Gas leak prompts evacuation of Wilmington school

Fire crews are investigating a gas odor and gas leak at a school in Wilmington, Delaware, prompting students and faculty to evacuate the building.

The leak was reported just before 11:00 a.m. in the area of Shortlidge Academy, an elementary school located on the 100 block of West 18th Street.

Around 11:20 a.m. buses arrived to transport the 300 students to Warner Elementary, located at 801 West 18th Street, which is where they will spend the rest of the day, according to a Red Clay School District spokesperson.

Homes in the 100 block of West 18th Street have also been evacuated as a precaution.

A Delmarva Power spokesperson says the gas leak was caused by a water main leak. Crews quickly got the situation under control and, according to the fire department, residents were allowed to return to their homes.

As the buses of Shortlidge students pulled up to the school, a break in a sprinkler pipe activated an alarm, prompting the evacuation of Warner Elementary.

The problem, which was isolated to the basement, was addressed and students were allowed back in the building.

By the time the sprinkler pipe situation was declared under control, the gas leak incident on West 18th Street was over. So students were driven back to Shortlidge to continue their day.